The board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) will meet in Dublin today to consider the terms of reference for a new inquiry into the delay in informing at least 28 blood donors of positive test results for hepatitis C in the early 1990s.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin confirmed in June that he was establishing an inquiry into the delay. Representatives of the campaign groups Transfusion Positive and Positive Action have already agreed broad terms of reference for the inquiry.
However, the IBTS has failed to agree the terms of reference.
A decision by one such donor who was not immediately informed of his test result in the early 1990s to sue the BTSB and the State for damages as a result of the delay prompted the inquiry.
The donor, who gave evidence to the 1997 Finlay tribunal under the pseudonym Donor L, is understood to have initiated proceedings in the past six months.
Screening for hepatitis C anti-bodies was introduced by the BTSB in 1991 but it was not until November 1993 that Donor L was informed of his positive status. He had donated blood six times in the interim. None of these donations was used, however.
It is believed that only Donor L is understood to be aware of the delay in conveying test results.
Whatever the outcome of the inquiry and the legal case by Donor L the financial cost of the blood scandals looks certain to rise.
By last May, almost €300 million had been paid out under the hepatitis C compensation tribunal to those infected with the virus through blood and blood products.